"How have you been able to stay in the bible regularly for over 30 years? You aren't a theologian, you don't have a PHD, or a masters in ministry. You aren't even a preacher or a speaker on the bible. HOW do you continue reading and reading and reading?

I am a woman that loves God, you might love God too. Since 1990, my world has leaned heavily on God's Word to steer me through my life. (read more)

People have asked me these kinds of questions for years.

Some have said things like, "I want to 'stay in the word' but I need a devotional or someone to tell me what I need to know from the words. Or, I need to have someone else inspire me.""How do you keep getting inspired by just reading the bible?"

Recently a friend came to visit Blue Moon. He had some business in DC and made his way up to stay for a couple of nights with my hubby and I. After breakfast we shared some conversation about the RR&BCommunity my husband and I have been called to offer.Join Here

This business man took a look into the page offered for that day and said, "Robyn, this is something someone could take either hours or minutes to contemplate. Your questions are thought provoking. I can see getting real benefit by doing this."

I have discussed reading the bible and the importance of it for over 25 years now.

But this conversation made me stop and think? How? How have I stayed so deeply in the word almost everyday for the last 30 years. I am no more holy than the next guy. I certainly have not made all the right choices, nor lived some sinless life.

I still come to the word with an open heart, knowing that I need changing. That is probably the first thing. DAILY! I need changing. I need a renewed spirit.

People who have come to my bible studies have commented over and over again, "Robyn, you just present it differently." Or, "Your questions make me think." Or, "I always get more out of the Bible when I read it with you."

But, what brought me to it regularly?How have I been able to hide his word in my heart?I think God revealed it to me.I am, by profession, a Reading/Writing Specialist. I apply what I teach in my own personal Bible reading.

I read thoughtfully. I am a thoughtful reader. I am a reading specialist. I learned how to read thoughtfully and I spent 13 years in the classroom teaching children how to read thoughtfully.

But children aren't the only ones that need to be encouraged to read thoughtfully. Many adults when desiring to read the bible daily find themselves relying on others to decipher what the bible says by reading devotionals, commentaries, or bible studies.

These within themselves are not negative options for reading the word of God.

But there is something very personal about reading the bible thoughtfully alone with God.

It is that special place that the Psalm 119:11 speaks of

"Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." NASB"I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I may not sin against You." NLT

As a Reading/Writing Specialist, I teach people how to read thoughtfully and how to write creatively.

As a bible teacher I have spent over 25 years teaching people how to read the Bible thoughtfully.

That is what we do in our community. I help people read the bible regularly and thoughtfully. With the end desire to hide His words in their heart. And the end result of that is to not sin against Him. Not for any other reason than GOD CHANGES HEARTS THROUGH HIS WORD.

If you are someone that values reading the word but has never been able to consistently do it. Or someone that has difficulty finding anything really interesting in the word, but believe you should be hiding it in your heart. We ask you to come with an open heart to join us in this endeavor.

As this new year is just around the corner, consider becoming a member.

Some members have told me it is the most profitable $9.97 month expenditure they have ever invested in.

Consider joining us on this thoughtful, prayerful adventure. Join Here

Psalm 119:25-32 NLT25. I lie in the dust; revive me by your word.26. I told you my plans and you answered. Now teach me your decrees.27. Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.28. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.29. Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.30. I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.31. I cling to your laws. LORD, don't let me be put to shame!32. I will pursue your commands, for you expand my understanding.Psalm 119:25-32 NLT

Apologies for last weeks non-appearance... One week out of 38 ⏤ Dang it! Oh how pride commeth before the fall...I was seeing my friends off that had come to visit from Germany. She is a young German woman that came to the LORD with me over 10 years ago. I mentored her while on the mission field. I returned to the states three years ago. She wanted to come and see me and my man and allow me to meet her husband and two-year-old. They visited for over a week. It was a blessing. She too cried when she told me she missed our bible reading times and is thankful for this site. It might not be on my couch, in my living room, but it is my heart ⏤exposed and shared.

Celebration of Discipline published in 1978 written by Richard J. Foster has helped millions of believers walk into a deeper understanding of the peace and joy God's relationship affords.

I picked this book up in 1998 as I was stacking books in the small family owned Christian bookstore I was working in. With three kids, a full-time teaching career, a part-time job to make ends meet, and no husband to help shoulder the load, I was in deep need of D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E.

The title was enticing. Celebration of Discipline. How in the world could I, this abstract-random thinker, find discipline a celebration? This is surely the book for me. I need to make discipline fun. If I can only find joy in the ins and outs of schedules and rhythms I would have this discipline thing down.HA! I was all in. I failed to read the forward and bought the book.

I remember this book sitting on my ottoman for about a week. I finally picked it up and thumbed through it.

YIKES, this isn't a self-help book about organizational skills, this is a book about the SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.

I had never read about these before. However, since I had earlier begun a powerful walk with the LORD through reading the Bible regularly, I thought it just like God to bring such a book across my path. The subtitle to this book is . The Path to Spiritual Growth. Don't ask me why I hadn't skimmed that as well as the title. But I wonder sometimes if God keeps us in the dark about things as He brings us into the light bit-by-bit.

This book is laid out in three parts. Within those parts four particular disciplines are explored.

These three parts look in-depth at the Inward, Outward, and Corporate Disciplines.

Within the Inward Disciplines meditation, prayer, fasting, and study are given their full due. These Inward Disciplines are the foundation of the entire spiritual foundation of the believer.Without these operating well things get a little cattywampus. We walk, but we usually walk with a limp. My eyes were opened on so many levels when I read, with an open heart, how important these are in our spiritual walk I was blown away. I entered into a new experience and a new life-walk. I have never been the same.

Part II dealing with the Outward Disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service gave me much to think and pray over. And my actions began to change. Within eight years I was called onto the mission field. My children were all in college or married and I moved into serving in a capacity I would never have imagined myself moving ⏤but for GOD.

Part III deals with the Corporate Disciplines of Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration. These Corporate Disciplines are so important for the body of Christ.

We are rounding the corner into Autumn. Here at little Blue Moon my hubby and I are entertaining house guests. Friends from Germany. The woman I met in Germany. I have known her for 10 years. She was in an unhealthy relationship and didn't know Jesus. She married a great guy and now has a child and one on the way. She is growing in her faith. She holds a very special spot in my life not only because she came to the LORD with me, but also because she became one of my closest friends while I was alone in a foreign land.

This couple arrived on Saturday having flown into NY city on Thursday. We have enjoyed them immensely. Biggest problem I deal with in these visits: falling back into the German language either in writing or speaking. Part of the bi-lingual dilemma. But, my Man tells me it is okay to be in the moment with my friends. He tells me it is good for me. He is my hero and my champion. And he too champions me. I am blessed.

As I leave this blog series I am grateful to discuss these four mentors that have helped me learn how to fear well. This last is truly come to be my favorite book written about spiritual practices.My house guest is a direct result of this calling. And I praise God for Him teaching me over those early years in my 30's through implementing much of this book into my spiritual life.

I pray that your walk into a deeper spiritual life has been helped by these four mentors. They have given me many insights into how to fear God, thus creating an easier life. Because if I fear God, He will handle everything. And because I fear Him well I can live fear free of the world and its dangers.

That is how this next book came into my hands. A friend I'd known for years recommended it. She sent it to me and I was WOW'd by the depth and thoughtful words written. The book is only 100 small pages long, yet, these pages are filled with wise words of how to move more intimately into the relationship with Jesus on a Moment by Moment basis.

Now, this doesn't mean it took me only a few hours to read. Instead, I would say it gave me confidence that I would finish the book. But, it is one of those kind of books that needs chewing on. I could read a few pages and then chew on it for a while. Because it was a tiny book, I didn't have a problem with putting it down and coming back to it later.

We've been reviewing 4 Mentors that I dig into every year to prepare my heart for the New Year right around the corner.

We began with Eugene Peterson's A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.

The second mentor was Gordon MacDonald with his classic Ordering Your Private World.

And today I share one of the old, old classics. a tiny book entitled The Sacrament of the Present Moment by Jean-Pierre DeCaussade translated by Kitty Muggeridge.

Jean-Pierre was born in the province of Quercy in southern France on March 6, 1675. He taught Greek, Latin, and philosophy in various towns nearby Toulouse, and then returned to the university at Toulouse for further theological study culminating in a doctorate in theology.

Focusing on two chapters today, I will give you the titles of the sub chapters.

Chapter 2.

God Living in Souls and Souls Living in God

Waiting on God

Belonging Wholly to God

The Path of Pure Duty

The Discipline of Surrender

The Stirrings of Grace

Each of these sub chapters range from a single paragraph to a page and a half long.So, this slim book is jam-packed with big ideas and interesting thoughtful guidance.

And it only gets better in Chapter 9. 'The Secret of Discovering God's Transcendent Will in the Present Moment'

The Present Moment Holds Infinite Riches

Recognizing God in the Most Trivial

The Living Word

Breath of the Holy Spirit

God's Instruments, Moment by Moment

Grace Supplies All Needs

And the list goes on.

I am thankful for so many thought provoking ideas and concepts running from page to page throughout. Only eleven chapters, only 100 pages. Punching powerful and provoking questions.

Try it out. It just might be a little wisdom from an old wise mentor.

So glad you are here.

Have a great week.

I post here on Mondays.Or daily as I review my life as a missionary in Germany:on the Mutating Missionary blog.Click HereRobyn Rochelle Cox

Last week I began a series of blogs revealing the four books that I read on a yearly basis.

These tried and true books have become my mentors over the years. They have reeled me in and reminded me of the end goal. And when I have my focus clear, I walk a little less afraid.

Last week, I shared the book by Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.

This week, I highlight a book by Gordon MacDonald entitled Ordering Your Private World.

There are very few pages in this book I have not filled with stars or underlined sentences. Some ideas I have blogged about in the past, so they have in the margin the word BLOG. I have repeatedly reached into this book and found wisdom to move forward into a new year.

On the first page in the preface entitled 'The Day I Hit the Wall' MacDonald writes as a counter response to the profitable and efficient busyness of a purposeful person:

"But there is also a busyness (a destructive busyness, actually) that reflects a chaotic way of life⏤a way of doing in which one is simply responding whether or not it has significance; it's just the next thing, and one does it because it's there to do." pg.1

A few pages later He, (a pastor of a sizable church) describes himself as "A young man with a fairly empty soul, rich in natural gifts but impoverished when it came to an inner space, from which there might flow a wellspring of wisdom, spiritual power, and Christian depth." pg 6.

WOW! What a vulnerable, honest description.

The rest of the book containing fourteen chapters are filled with how God sent him down a road of healing from chaos. MacDonald takes us on this journey of his drop into a sinkhole and shares how he believes the burn out could have been prevented.

Every chapter begins with a wise word on a note card. The notes are copy worthy.

Do you know what I mean when I say 'copy worthy?'

Copy Worthy are the words I jot down on a sticky note and put on my wall in my office, or the mirror in my office. Years ago, when I didn't have an office, I stuck them on my bathroom mirror and would read them as I was dressing for work.

The first Memo from the first chapter, 'The Sinkhole Syndrome', is to the Disorganized.

"If my private world is in order it will be because I am convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity." pg. 10

Good stuff, right?

There are wise words like this:

"I manage time and command it best when I budget it far in advance."pg 98

or this:

"I think Jesus included a third element in His strategy of time budgeting, for He set time aside for the training of the Twelve. With a world of millions to reach, Jesus budgeted the majority of His time to be with just a few simple men." pg 84

And that is probably why I found this book so valid. It is rich with input on how to keep taking each step of my life toward the purpose I have been called to by God.

It is a study on how Jesus handled life as both a person and a leader. And every year I glean more wisdom from it.

I highly recommend checking this book out and taking some time reading it before the end of the year. It is a book that will help guide you down the road of purposeful living.

Having a purpose for our lives gives us a plumline. As we go through and check that plumline we are more quickly stabilized and led into peace. That peace that comes when we have a clear destination.

MacDonald challenges the driven leader and draws a line between the driven and the called. His clear guidance to determine where his reader lands is a great comeuppance. A pie graph/diagram is drawn from the beginning of the book walking each person through five slices of living. Use of time and Spiritual Strength are just two of the powerful pieces of the pie.

The book closes with a Study Guide. I didn't go through the Study Guide until my third reading, but when I finally did, I found it brought even more depth from the wisdom shared by MacDonald.

I encourage you to check this book out. If you have read it in the past, consider tapping into it again. You can buy it on line, it is even available on Kindle. I pray that this gives you an opportunity to build into your life a daily commitment to be reading the word of God.

And if you ever want to join us here for that regular commitment with our Reading, Reflection, and Bible Community, you can find us at

Robyn Rochelle Cox

I want to spend my life learning how to fear God well - because when you fear God well, you have nothing else to fear

Who am I to this world?By Morning: Writer/Blogger/Reader/Prayer (well...all day)By Midday:Professional Dog WalkerBy Evening:Lover/Friend/ Companion/Hand holder to my HusbandOverall:Long Distance Mom - to 4 children and their bettersOmi - to 8 grandchildrenMama - to 3 furbabies

The Good Stuff:*My husband takes care of me - in a 1,000 different ways - I love that.*Children from all over the world calling, or texting, or Skyping and most importantly, visiting.*The Revisionaries (critique group)